Tawny owls are the most common owl in Britain but face pressures from woodland management practices, second-generation rodenticides, and the loss of mature trees with natural cavities.
Rodenticide poisoning from consuming contaminated prey is a major welfare concern, causing internal bleeding and slow death. Loss of natural tree cavities forces owls into suboptimal nest sites with higher predation risk and weather exposure. Owlets on the ground are frequently mistaken for injured birds and removed unnecessarily by well-meaning members of the public.